Traveling contacting device



Feb. 13, 1951 E. W. WISMER TRAVELING coNTACTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4,1945 F'IlEi-E Patented Feb. 13, 1.951

TRAVELING CON TACTIN G DEVICE Edwin W. Wismer, Oakland, Calif., assignorto Justin M. Jacobs, Hillsborough, Calif.

Application August 4, 1945, Serial No. 608,933 claims. (o1. 191-59) Thisinvention relates generally to traveling contacting devices suitable foruse with trolley w1res.

In Benbow Patent 2,255,874 there is disclosed a traveling contactingdevice making use of a chainlike endless series of conductor elementsadapted to make continuous electrical connection with a trolley wire. Inpractice the conductor elements are carried by a trolley box or likebody which also carries one or more bus bars disposed in spaced parallelrelationship with the trolley wire. The conductor elements are arrangedto pass between the bus bar and the trolley wire to thereby makecontinuous electrical connection.

The device as disclosed in said Patent 2,255,874 makes use of at leastone and preferably two sheaves or Wheels upon which the endlessconductor chain is tracked. In another form of the device disclosed inBenbow co-pending application Serial No. 575,300, led January 30, 1945,now Patent No. 2,501,203 dated March 21, 1950, the endless conductorchain is tracked upon sprocket wheels in place of sheaves.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplied type oftraveling contacting device utilizing the invention of Benbow 2,255,874but making possible elimination of sheaves or sprockets for tracking theendless conductor chain. A further object of the invention is thereforeto provide a simplified traveling contacting device which can bemanufactured at relatively low cost and which will be capable of longuseful life with a minimum amount of servicing and repair. V

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth indetail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating adevice incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The apparatus as illustrated in the drawing consists generally of atraveling contacting device |0 which is adapted to operate inconjunction with a trolley wire assembly Il. A trolley assembly in thisinstance consists of a trolley wire or conductor |2 surrounded by aprotective sheath I3 of insulating material, such as natural orsynthetic rubber. The back side (upper Side as illustrated) of thissheath is retained by the substantially T-shaped metal backing ormounting strip I4. The lower side of the sheath, or

2 what is normally the lower side when the contacting device I0 isoperated in a vertical position, is provided with a series of recessesI6, separated by the teethlike bars Il of insulating material formedintegral with the remainder of the sheath. Recesses i6 permit electricalcontact with the trolley Wire l2 as will be presently explained.

A suitable length of the assembly is supported at intervals by thebrackets I8,

The trolley contacting device Iii consists of a body 20 which ispreferably formed of suitable molded insulating material, and split intotwo parts 20a and 2Gb. Carried by this body there is an endless series2| of articulated conductor elements or what can be termed an endlessconductor chain. Each of elements 22 making up this chain consists of anouter toothlike portion 22a, the end face of which can be notched orgrooved as indicated at 225 to facilitate seating upon the wire 2. Theenlarged base portion 22e of each element is provided with slots orrecesses The means for connecting adjacent elements 22 preferablyconsists of links 24 which have their ends pivotally connected toelements 22 by the pivot pins 25. The end portions of links 24 areaccommodated within the slots 23.

The body 2li also carries bus bar means forV making continuouselectrical contact with the elements 22. The bus bar means in thisinstance consists of a relatively rigid bar 2l made of suitable materialsuch as hard copper or bronze. The end portions 28 of this bar arelooped or bent back upon themselves to form curved guide portions fortracking the conductor chainV 2|, as will be presently explained.Preferably the curved portions 28 extend through arcs substantially inexcess of In the detail illustrated they extend through arcs in excessof In order to retain the bus bar 2l in normal operating position, whileat the same time permitting limited movement of the same, the body isprovided with studs or bolts 29, which are surrounded by the spacersleeves 3|. The sleeves 3| in turn carry the resilient rubber buifersleeves 32. The proportioning of the sleeves 32 is such that thesemembers are loosely embraced by the curved portions 28 of the bus bar,whereby the bus bar is permitted limited longitudinal movekment andlimited lateral movement in a direction toward the trolley wire l2.

As will be seen in Figure 1 the conductor elements are adapted to passbetween the linear portion of the bus bar 2l and the trolley wire l2,with the tooth shaped portions 22a accommodated within the recesses i6.Suitable spring means are provided for urging the bus bar toward thetrolley wire, thus securing proper pressure for good electrical contactbetween the bus bar and the conductor elements 22, and between theseelements and the trolley wire. The spring means shown in this instanceconsists of a pair of leaf springs 3B retained upon the body studs 33,and having their ends pressing at spaced points upon the linear portionof the bus bar 21 as illustrated.

Assuming that the device is operated in a vertical position as shown inFigures 1 and 2, it is desirable, but not essential, to support thelower run of the chainlike conductor. For this purpose the body can beprovided with a pair of parallel ribs 34 between which the tooth shapedportions 22a may pass, but which serve as supporting sheaves forengaging the base portions 22a. Thus the lower run of the conductorchain is supported to minimize pressure and friction upon the curvedportions 28.

'In order to insure proper tracking of the device vupon the trolley wireassembly the body is provided with two pairs of upstanding strips theupper ends of which carry the tracking wheels 31. These wheels operateupon the shoulders 38 of the metal backing strip I4,

'Suitable means can be provided to make connection between the bus bar21 and an external conductor 39. Thus va terminal box 4l is formed onthe body and is provided withan inner termilnal block 42 with whichcable 39 makes electrical connection. Bus strip 43 serves to connectthis Vbox with iiexible feed conductors 54, which in turn are connectedto the terminals of the bus bar 21.

Operation of the device described above can be explained as follows:When the device is traversed longitudinally of the trolley wire, as bymeans of a tow connection toa traveling crane carriage, the conductorchain progresses about the bus bar 21 with the teeth portions enteringthe cavities I6 to make lelectrical contact with the trolley wire i2.The bus 'bar is permitted limited movement relative vto the body land isurged by springs 3B in a direction to maintain `good electrical Contactwith the conductor elements. The conductor elements move freely aboutthe curved end portions 28 without vundue friction, and withoutnecessitating the 'use of sheaves or sprockets such as utilized in'prior practice. Freedom of movement about the curved portions 28 isenhanced by the support afforded by the ribs 34.

I claim:

1. In a traveling contacting device fora trolley wire comprising a body,a conducting bus bar carried by the body and adapted to move parallel toand in spaced relationship to the wire, end portions of said bus barbeing looped to provide guide portions, and an endless chainlike Vseriesof articulated conductor elements mounted for movement between the busbar and the wire to provide a conducting path therebetween, said'elements being loosely guided about the end portions of the bus bar,portions of the said 'body forming jan enclosed housing about theconductor elements and the bus bar.

2. In a traveling contacting device for a trolley wire comprising abody, a conducting -bus bar ca-rried by the body and adapted to movepara-llel to and in spaced relationship to the wire,looped prtionsformed 4on the ends of the bus bar, an end-- less chainlike series ofarticulated conductor elements disposed for movement between the bus barand the wire to provide a conducting path therebetween, said conductorelements being loosely guided over the end portions of the bus bar, andspring means serving to urge the bus bar relative to the body and towardthe wire.

3. In a traveling contacting device for a trolley wire comprising abody, an extended bus bar carried by the body and adapted to moveparallel 'to and in spaced relationship to the wire, the ends of the busbar being looped through arcs in excess of retaining members mountedupon the body .and ydisposed within said looped end portions Aof the busbar, thereby generally retaining the same against longitudinal movement,A.spring means serving to urge the bus bar toward said wire, and a chainlike endless series of articulated conductor elements mounted formovement between the bus bar and the wire vand loosely engaging aboutthe 'looped portions of the bus bar, said elements serving to provide aconducting path between the wire land the bus bar.

4. ln a traveling contacting device for a 'trolley wire comprising abody, a bus Vbar carried by the body and adapted to move parallel to andin spaced relationship to the wire, the ends of the bus bar being bentto iorrn arcuate guide portions, retaining studs mounted upon the bodyand disposed within said arcuate guide portions, said studs being inproximity with the inner 'surfaces of the guide portions to therebygenerally retain the bus'bar against longitudinal movement whilepermitting lateral movement toward or away from lthe wire, spring meansdisposed generally betwe-n said studs and serving to urge the bus bartoward said wire, and a chainlike endless ser-ies of articulatedconductor elements mounted for movement between the bus bar and the wireand loosely engaging about the arcuate guide portions, said elementsserving to provide a conducting path between the wire and the bus bar.

5. In a traveling contacting device for a trolley wire comprising abody, a conducting bus bar with curved ends carried by the body adaptedto move parallel to and in spaced relationship to 'the wire, retainingmembers mounted upon the -body and disposed within the curved ends .ofthe bus bar, said retaining members being disposed in `proximity withthe inner surfaces of said curved ends and permitting movement of .theVbus bar toward the wire and generally :retaining the same againstlongitudinal movement, ,spring means to urge the bus bar toward thewire, .and yan endless series of Iarticuland conductor elements mountedfor movement between the bus bar and the wire to provide a conductingpath therebetween, said elements being Vloosely guided over the curvedends of the bus bar.

EDWIN W. WISMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references `:are of record .in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,227,625 Benbow Jan. 7., 19412,255,87l Benbow Sept. 16, 1941 2,358,116 Wehr Sept. 12, 1944 .2,453,778Benbow Nov. 16, 1948

